News

Seven arrests in drugs raid on Weymouth pub

SEVEN people were arrested after Class A Drugs were seized during a raid on a Weymouth pub.
A ‘substantial amount of money’ was also found by officers after they stormed The George Inn on Custom House Quay, following a lengthy investigation.
Shocked diners described ‘around 30 police officers in full riot gear’ entering the premises at around 10pm on Thursday night, making arrests and ordering people to leave.
The harbourside pub had its licence suspended yesterday pending a review and will remain closed until further notice.
A Dorset Police spokesman said: “At just before 10pm on Thursday, officers in Weymouth executed a Misuse of Drugs Act warrant at the George Inn at Custom House Quay in Weymouth following a two-month operation to gather evidence.
“Officers found and seized substances believed to be Class A drugs in addition to a substantial amount of money.
“As a result, seven people – three men aged, 33, 37 and 63, three women, aged 33, 35 and 57, and a 17-year-old boy, all from the Weymouth area – were arrested on suspicion of drug offences and are helping officers with their inquiries.”
Yesterday, police presented evidence to the licensing committee at the offices of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council.
A full hearing is due to take place on November 20.
Detective Inspector Marcus Hester, of the Dorset Police Major Crime Team, said: “This sends a clear message to landlords that the police will not tolerate drug dealing within licensed premises or indeed within the Dorset area and will continue to proactively target anyone involved in drug supply.” Waitress Natalie Wootton, from the nearby Ship Inn, said police remained on the harbourside until around 2pm yesterday.
She said: “All I know is it was a drugs raid and I understand thousands of pounds worth of stuff was found.
One of our kitchen staff was going in for a pint and his friend told him not to as everyone was getting arrested.
The police were also asking for the ID of loads of people. “A lot of people have obviously been talking about it, saying cocaine was found.”
Another member of staff at the Ship Inn, who did not wish to be named, said: “I heard that everyone eating upstairs was kicked out and people downstairs were getting arrested.
“The rumour is they found thousands of pounds worth of drugs. One shocked Weymouth resident, who did not wish to be named, was sat having a drink and meal at The George Inn with his family when three police vans and a police car pulled up outside.
He said: “Before we knew it about 30 police officers burst through the doors shouting ‘police’. They were kitted out in riot gear and holding batons.
“They charged through the pub and into the kitchen area.
They secured the whole building and we were told to leave as were many other customers.
“We were informed that they were doing a drugs raid on the pub. It was quite scary but exciting.” The George Inn landlords were unavailable for comment.